The ongoing disproportionate burden of HIV/AIDS borne by gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States as well as around the world was the topic of a number of sessions and posters at the 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Atlanta this week.

While HIV incidence data (i.e., the number of new HIV infections) are less available worldwide than are prevalence data (i.e., the number of all persons living with HIV, both new and existing infections), the incidence data in hand suggest that there are stable or rising rates of new infection among MSM around the world, particularly in the last 5 years. As an example, Dr. Beyrer—who is also the President-elect of the International AIDS Society—shared 5-year cumulative incidence data from a Bangkok, Thailand, cohort of MSM in a recently-published study. Over the course of 60 months, 23% of sexually active Thai MSM of all ages who participated in the study became infected with HIV. Even more alarming, 31% of MSM ages 18-21 became infected with HIV over the same time period. Dr. Beyrer noted that these new infections occurred in a country with good ARV access, where homosexuality is not criminalized, and where the heterosexual HIV epidemic is in decline.

Dr. Beyrer discussed how the high background prevalence of HIV in many MSM communities drives new infections and increases the lifetime likelihood of HIV acquisition among its members. Exacerbating this is the fact that young MSM in the U.S. and in many other countries have the highest rates of new HIV infections, but they are also the least likely to be in HIV care and treatment. Further, structural factors such as discrimination based on sexual orientation or HIV status, criminalization of same-sex sexual practices, and barriers to health-care access for MSM also limit the impact of HIV prevention efforts for these communities. Dr. Beyrer pointed out, however, that modest increases in the use of condoms can have very positive impacts on these epidemics.

To better respond to the global HIV epidemic among MSM, Dr. Beyrer laid out key priorities for further research including working to better understand why current approaches to HIV prevention are not working to optimal levels and improving our understanding of how to lower biological risks for HIV transmission and acquisition. He also urged greater efforts to promote optimal HIV care and continued research in the social sciences, including the development of approaches to intervene against homophobia.

Dr. Beyrer’s address was a compelling reminder of the scope of the HIV epidemic among MSM in the U.S. and its marked racial and ethnic disparities. According to CDC, MSM of all races and ethnicities remain the population most profoundly affected by HIV in the United States. In 2010, the estimated number of new HIV infections among MSM was 29,800, a significant 12% increase from the 26,700 new infections among MSM in 2008. Further, the estimated number of new HIV infections was greatest among MSM in the youngest age group. And when examined by race/ethnicity and age group, in 2010, the greatest number of new HIV infections (4,800) among MSM in the U.S. occurred in young black/African American MSM aged 13–24. Young black MSM accounted for 45% of new HIV infections among black MSM and 55% of new HIV infections among young MSM overall.

Working to address these disparities is an important part of ongoing efforts to implement the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. Recently, HHS convened a consultation on HIV among Black gay and bisexual men to explore how to best address the HIV prevention, care, treatment, capacity building and research needs of Black gay and bisexual men and discussed at length the various circumstances and disparities that put them at greater risk for acquiring HIV and having poorer health outcomes after they acquire the virus.

Also at the conference, Dr. Cyprian Wejnert, presented findings from a CDC analysis showing a promising increase between 2008 and 2011 in awareness of HIV infection among MSM in 20 U.S. cities with high AIDS burdens. He and colleagues analyzed data from the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System and found that while the proportion of MSM testing positive who were already aware of their infection increased from 56% to 66% between 2008 and 2011; the prevalence of HIV infection among MSM in those cities remained steady. Since increasing the percentage of persons aware of their HIV infection is a key goal of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, Dr. Wejnert and colleagues noted this increase in HIV status awareness is encouraging. But on a troubling note, the same CDC analysis found that the proportion of men aware of their HIV infection remained lowest (54 percent) among black MSM in 2011, though HIV prevalence was highest within this population: Black MSM in these 20 cities were nearly twice as likely as white MSM to be living with HIV.

With an estimated half of all new HIV infections transmitted by people who are unaware of their HIV-positive status these increases in awareness are encouraging, but the continuing racial/ethnic disparities are concerning. Dr. Wenjert and his colleagues conclude that outreach and testing programs should be sustained and that efforts to reduce disparities remain critical in the fight against HIV.

Another session focused specifically on HIV among adolescents, Dr. Gary Harper of the University of Michigan reviewed a range of social-ecological factors that are hypothesized to be fueling the HIV epidemic among gay/bisexual adolescents and other young MSM in the United States. These include social inequalities related to race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status; as well as cultural, religious, and other social forces. He urged investment in the evaluation of culturally and developmentally appropriate HIV prevention programs for gay/bisexual male adolescents and other young MSM, with a focus on interventions that counter oppressive socio-cultural forces and build upon the existing strength and resilience of these young men.

We agree with Dr. Beyrer’s observation that the global epidemics of HIV among MSM are an ongoing challenge for all of us and that in order to achieve the goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy and PEPFAR’s Blueprint for an AIDS-Free Generation, “we have to do much more and much better for gay, bisexual, and other MSM.” This will require ongoing attention to systems of prevention and care for MSM, prioritization of research needs to improve health outcomes for these populations, and continued efforts to promote consistent and correct condom use as a means of preventing HIV transmission.

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